Old heart, new blood

RECKONED to be the first private house scheme in the heart of Cork’s northside for several years, Coppinger’s Acre is a development which has already done its neighbours many favours.

Money paid by the developers John F Supple for the land for this 72-house project helped meet Cork City Council’s €3.75 million contribution to the swanky new Churchfield swimming pool, gym and sports complex which opened last year.

Coppinger’s Acre, named after an earlier land owner and farmer who worked these fields in Churchfield, is a well-advanced scheme in the heart of a settled community, with services nearby.

The servicesinclude schools, shops, bus routes, and the Sam Allen playing fields and all-weather pitches for tennis, basketball and other sports.

Estate agents Property Team Damien Wallace are selling, and launch formally this weekend with 10 pre-sold.

“We’d expect most demand to come from people with links to the area, who’ve wanted to buy private homes, and because of the facilities locally and the proximity to the city centre there’ll be some new arrivals too from further away,” Mr Wallace predicted.

It is the first significant private homes scheme in a number of years on the northside hills: the last comparable scheme was probably McInerney’s development Monastery Hill, on Blarney Street, dating back to the early 2000s.

There are great city views from the sloping site, and design of the houses is by Murray O Laoire Architects.

The variety of units ranges from two bedroom apartments of 790 sq ft at €275,000 to three bedroom town houses and duplexes, ranging in size from 1,022 to 1,222, sq ft, and at prices from €320,000 to €340,000.

Designed to a modern look and specification, all of the units have own door access and have off street parking. Features include external finishes such as zinc and natural cedar wood cladding.

The development includes a one acre landscaped open space, and a spend of €500,000 is to be made on neighbouring O’Learys Field for community facilities.